Episodes where the characters fight a villain and the whole story is wrapped up at the end, never to be dealt with again. Can be seen as the complete antithesis of a StoryArc, or as a BigBad arc compressed into one episode. However, through use of a plot element like ArcWords, what appear to be unrelated dealings can be strung together.

The term (a play on Movie of the Week) was originally coined by the writing staff of ''Series/TheOuterLimits1963'', which sought to distinguish itself from its biggest competitor, ''Series/TheTwilightZone'', by promising viewers a new monster every episode. Out of its 49 episodes, only around 8 twisted or outright eschewed the formula.[[note]]"The Man Who Was Never Born" (where the "monster" is the protagonist), "The Hundred Days of the Dragon", "The Borderland", "Controlled Experiment" (where the central characters are two martians with completely human appearances and a time control device on hand, and they aren't evil), both parts of "The Inheritors", "The Form of Things Unknown", and "Demon with a Glass Hand".[[/note]]

Variations crop up from time to time, though the most generic term is "Villain of the Week." ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'' and ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' for example are sometimes discussed in terms of the "Freak of The Week." MysteryOfTheWeek is the [[CrimeAndPunishmentSeries detective series]] version of this trope.

Sometimes, the monsters get [[AttackOfTheKillerWhatever ridiculous]], especially in {{filler}}s, where they are almost always [[MonsterOfTheAesop themed after the plot of the episode.]] ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'' had a giant vacuum cleaner early in its run, for example; ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', a walking garbage dump.

[[TropesAreTools This actually is not a bad thing.]] Monster of the Week (and perhaps MonsterMunch) can be used to establish characters or setting. Or perhaps lead to a much bigger StoryArc.

Subtrope of OneShotCharacter. Often used in collaboration with AdventureTowns, may or may not be MonogenderMonsters. See also RoBeast, MonsterOfTheAesop, and SingleSpecimenSpecies. Contrast MonsterMash, RoguesGallery.

Not to be confused with Shaenon Garrity's ''Series/TheXFiles'' parody webcomic ''[[http://www.shaenon.com/monsteroftheweek/ Monster of the Week.]]'', or with the ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld'' style {{Tabletop Game}} of the [[TabletopGame/MonsterOfTheWeek same name]].

----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' started out like this, with Ichigo fighting a different hollow each chapter. Though after Rukia got taken back to Soul Society, it became more StoryArc focused.** Even during {{Story Arc}}s, his duels with Lieutenants, Captains, Arrancars, etc, all count as part of this trope. Duel of the Week, perhaps?* With the exception of the series' recurring antagonist [[BigBad Vicious]], most ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episodes centered around a single villain or group of villains that was never heard from again after the end of the episode (some were two-parters).* The anime ''Anime/DaiGuard'' [[LampshadeHanging hangs a lampshade on this one]] by having scientists predict that the conditions necessary for the alien giant monster invaders to appear will repeat themselves roughly once every week.* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls Powerpuff Girls]]'' anime adaptation ''Anime/DemashitaPowerpuffGirlsZ'', the Powerpuff Girls tended to fight one-shot antagonists created by the black Chemical Z rays when they weren't fighting any of their traditional adversaries. They often only appeared for one episode because their episodes always ended with the monster either being permanently returned to normal by Professor Utonium or having a HeelFaceTurn. The anime's interpretation of Him also created some one-shot villains by exposing random people, plants, and inanimate objects to dark particles he released throughout the city.* Every season of ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' starts out this way as the new characters learn the ropes and the viewers learn the new characters (and in some seasons, new universe).** In the case of ''Anime/DigimonTamers'', this is generally held to be what killed the show's American ratings as a true BigBad was not introduced until the trip to the [=DigiWorld=] 24 episodes in.** [[Anime/DigimonFrontier Season 4]] states that most all monsters are sub races of Digimon, save a few, from the start.* The Jyarei Monsters from ''Anime/EtoRangers''. This is a variant of the trope, however: they disguise themselves as characters of the Novel Worlds, so before the Eto Rangers can do battle they ''first'' have to use the Revealing Mirror on the disguised Jyarei to get them to reveal their true form.* ''Anime/Figure17TsubasaAndHikaru'' plays this completely straight, although there is strong continuity as well. By the end of the series the monsters don't even look different from each other -- they just get slightly upgraded powers. This does become less prominent as the plot goes on, however, as emphasis shifts toward Tsubasa and Hikaru's relationship, with some episodes not featuring a Maguar at all, and others being dedicated to particularly large and important, multi-episode fights.* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'''s Kenshiro regularly faced off against villains of the week, often with some weird Nanto or Hokuto derived power that he had to overcome, moreso in the anime than in the manga, and the series varied between these and genuine story arcs.* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' played this for the first volume before going into the main plot (which it would keep through the entire series); interestingly it was still only one of the chapters of the first volume that didn't affect the story in any way.** Likewise, some early episodes of [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime adaptation]] had a version of this: if there's a plot important character in the episode we have not seen before, he is probably the villain of the week. The main exception to this rule is Rose. 'Course, a fair share of these episodes turned out to be important to the plot later.* Played straight in ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' with the Zonders, though taking things in canon time passage it could more likely be considered the "monster-of-the-half-a-week."* Played straight by ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'', though at first the monsters were just regular Cherubim Soldiers with some kind of new ability that the team had to find a way to overcome by using lessons from earlier in the episode to unlock a new attack.* The ''Manga/GetterRobo'' series did this a lot. The original, ''G'', ''Go'', and to an extent ''New'' all used this trope. Even the crossover movies were monsters of the week.* ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' has two types of episode: [[ThemeNaming "Stand-Alone"]] episodes that deal with a one-shot villain or case, and "Complex" episodes that advance the overall StoryArc of the season.* In ''Animation/GuardianFairyMichel'', every episode has a fairy turned into a monster that the heroes must stop and purify.* ''Manga/{{InuYasha}}'' was this for nearly every episode outside the last anime story arc. Once the manga got past the point of the anime ending, it changed up a little bit.* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' arguably boils down to this... except it's "villain for the next month and a half", due to the length of the fights.** The series didn't adopt this format until Part 3 began and Stands were introduced, as Parts 1 & 2 were arc-based. Interestingly enough, this format helped the popularity of the series, as the fights were unique and the Stand users diverse.* ''Manga/{{Kekkaishi}}'' follows this trope, with a strange new Ayakashi or two attacking the Karasumori site every night. But it's {{justified|Trope}} through the actual behavior of the Ayakashi, the motives of more dangerous ones, and the steady plans of the Kokuboro.* ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'' first began this way, Monster Extermination arc, before it became the ProfessionalWrestling series it became famous for.* Nightmare in ''[[Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa Kirby of the Stars]]'' would provide King Dedede with a new monster with which to try to kill Kirby every episode. Naturally, Dedede is just too cheap to buy more than one at any one time. He did go into debt buying them. Nightmare actually had to send a monster to collect the debt without him realizing (at first), though it still ended up being defeated. Some of the monsters were from the games, like the Ice Dragon and Mumbies, but others weren't.* ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' started out like this, then [[{{Pun}} Fate intervened]].** Even before that she collected some [[LostTechnology Jewel Seeds]] off-screen and several per episode.* ''Anime/MaiHime'' started out this way with the appearance of the Orphans. Then the various {{Ancient Conspirac|y}}ies started [[GambitPileup executing their plans one after another]] and [[NothingIsTheSameAnymore nothing was the same anymore]].* ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and its sequels, ''Anime/GreatMazinger'' and ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'', are considered the 19''70s'' paragon in spite of actually ''subverting'' the trope. Dr. Hell often sent two, three or even more Mechanical Beasts at a time as well. And the original manga averted it completely. The monsters gang up on Mazinger more often than not. It also was subverted in ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'', where Dr. Hell sends a large number of monsters at once against Z and Great Mazinger, and ''wins''.** Averted in ''Anime/ShinMazinger'', probably because it stuck more closely to the original manga. Dr. Hell ''never'' just sends one monster out into battle, and usually [[CrazyPrepared has backup plans should his monsters fail.]]* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', while extremely arc-based, still managed to introduce a lot of new enemy Mobile Suits in a monster-of-the-week fashion.** ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' is THE best example in ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', because this was the entire ''point'' behind the series, to draw on the monster of the week fanbase, or more specifically the robot of the week fanbase, because that was how most robot shows were done prior to ''Gundam''.** ''Anime/SDGundamForce'' did something like this during early on. Basically, the Dark Axis' QuirkyMinibossSquad would use a [[MindControl Control Horn]] on a robot in Neotopia, such as a swan ferry or a train, turning it from a helpful Mobile Citizen into a dangerous menace, and it would be the Gundam Force's job to destroy the Horn. According to the [[ShowWithinAShow Zako Zako Hour]], the Dark Axis (or at least Zapper's squad) were not very good at making new weapons, so they have to steal everything. This stopped after Episode 9 as the Dark Axis began sending in better warriors to attack Neotopia.* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' also started like this. From the 13th Angel's attack on, however, even though each monster's still gone at the end of the episode that introduced it, the mental scars its attack leaves behind on the main characters remain... and build up over time. ''Evangelion'''s cast is on its last legs by the time the 17th Angel kicks the bucket. [[FromBadToWorse Cue]] ''The End of Evangelion''.* For a while in ''Manga/PopcornAvatar'', this is how many of the Asura and their avatars appear in front of Kurando.* Integral to the ''Anime/PrettyCure'' series. Invariably, they're possessed objects turned rampaging beasts which the heroines fight, defeat and purified, albeit there are cases of animals and even people being possessed. In the first [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure two]] [[Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar seasons]] the villains summoned ghost-like spirits (Zakenna and Uzaina respectively) to created the monsters; in following seasons, the bad guys used different tools to achieve the same results, such as [[CoolMask masks]] ([[Anime/YesPrettyCure5 Kowaina]]), spheres (Hoshina from ''[=PC5=]'''s sequel ''GO!GO!''), diamond-shaped cards ([[Anime/FreshPrettyCure Nakewameke]]), [[OurSoulsAreDifferent wiltering Flower Hearts]] ([[Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure Desertrian]]), [[BrownNote corrupted musical notes]] ([[Anime/SuitePrettyCure Negatone]]) and [[MonsterClown clown noses]] containing a [[MacGuffin Cure Decor]] ([[Anime/SmilePrettyCure Akanbe]]). The [[Anime/DokiDokiPreCure Jikochuus]] are the exception to the rule as they are created with [[TheHeartless the selfish and petty thoughts of a person's heart]] without the need of possessing anything.** One notable example from ''Anime/DokiDokiPrettyCure'': [[spoiler:The BiggerBad and TrueFinalBoss is the final MonsterOfTheWeek, since he was only indirectly responsible to the plot and was never the BigBad. He even gets defeated in the same way like any other MonsterOfTheWeek.]]* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' starts out like this. The format gets dropped before the halfway mark. [[spoiler:One such monster manages to kill off a major character in the third episode]].* Played with and used straight by ''Anime/RahXephon''. The Dolems mainly show up on a one-a-week basis, although some of them survive their initial appearance and go on to reappear later.* The majority of MartialArtsAndCrafts opponents in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' ended up like this, from the [[RuleOfFunny comical and ridiculous]] (Sentaro Daimonji of the Martial Arts Tea Ceremony School, Picolet Chardin of [[BigEater La Belle France School]]) to the [[MoodWhiplash serious and dramatic]] ([[KiAttacks Prince Herb]], [[TheDrifter Ryu Kumon]], [[AGodAmI Saffron]]). Then the anime took it above and beyond with outlandish rivals of the week who used toys, eggs, calligraphy, or even ''crepes''. Only rivals who had preexisting relationships with the cast, such as Ryouga, Mousse, and Ukyou, were given the chance to stick around and become regular characters.* This is the basic structure of ''Manga/{{Rinne}}'' so far, albeit longer than most of the examples on this page -- most cases take two or three chapters to solve.* ''[[Manga/RosarioToVampire Rosario + Vampire]]'' started as your typical UnwantedHarem monster of the week manga, until [[GrowingTheBeard it became focused]] on more serious and involved story arcs. The anime adaption continued to be a fanservice-laden comedy into its second season, much to the chagrin of the fandom.* ''Anime/SamuraiPizzaCats''. [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in one episode, where the Big Cheese introduced the robot menace he'd prepared for this episode with "Monster of the week, please enter and sign in."* In ''Anime/SonicX'', the first 26 episodes of the first series had Dr. Eggman's randomly-deployed robots, each one with an E-(insert number here) as their serial number, and the first 11 episodes of the first half of the second series had random Metarex encountered by Sonic and co. along their journey to save the universe from the Metarex.* For about the first half of ''Anime/SpeedGrapher'', Suietengu's plan to recapture Kagura is to have his henchmen sic a different Euphoric on Saiga. They never live more than two episodes after being introduced.* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' plays this straight. In the first episode, the Lagann is introduced as well as a minor enemy. Next episode introduces some more mecha, including the Gunzan (later Gurren). Third episode introduces the first actually recurring villain, who's more of an anti-hero. By Episode 6, the show actually starts straying becoming more serialized rather than episodic, but maintains its monster of the week standard until Episode 15, where the MOTW is actually the first BigBad. The second half reversed this, by having the good guys introduce more and more powerful mecha to kick the enemy's ass, most notably after Team Dai-Gurren goes to space.* In ''Anime/UmiMonogatari'', the first few episodes have Marin and Kanon battling creatures that Sedna summons. This pattern gets abandoned halfway through the series as it focuses on more personal battles.* ''Anime/WitchHunterRobin'' got a new witch every week for the first half. Then things changed rather abruptly...* ''Anime/PhantomQuestCorp'' is comedy/horror sitcom style series which follows a case-by-case format (referred to as [[ParanormalInvestigation "Incident Files"]]). Each of its 4 episodes are its own stand alone adventure, complete with a different villain, or supernatural horror.* Early chapters of ''Manga/YuGiOh'' generally featured a "bully of the week." His role was typically to scam or beat up Yugi's friends, at which point Yugi would challenge him to a CookingDuel or the local equivalent. Most notably, TheRival Kaiba started out like this, [[EnsembleDarkhorse but]] [[BreakoutCharacter then...]]** The anime based on the manga, and its spin-offs, have a Duelist of the Week who pops up with a new deck gimmick and quirky personality to challenge the hero. With very, very few exceptions, these characters will be defeated in a single episode and will never appear again. If they're lucky, they'll get a two-part episode before they vanish.** ''Anime/YuGiOhCapsuleMonsters'' has different monsters to defeat for each of the five trials to return home. * ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'', ''Manga/SailorMoon'' and others in [[GottaCatchThemAll their]] [[MagicalGirl genres]] are well-known for this. This trope is very common in some varieties of {{anime}}, and in anime it tends to take an JustForFun/{{egregious}} form that, after watching a few episodes, causes the audience to start asking uncomfortable questions like "Well, why don't the bad guys attack all at once instead of one at a time?" Writers usually stoop to [[HandWave handwaving]] if they deal with the question at all.** ''Sailor Moon'' is the most famous of this, with the monsters of the week -- at least 80% of the time -- also being MonogenderMonsters, females in this case. None of the monsters ever survive the episodes they were introduced in, with the only two exceptions being Regulus (because Nephrite only used him as a distraction and never summoned him again after that) and Cenicienta (because the episode she appeared in was a two-parter). {{Parodied}} in [[http://www.sailorenergy.net/ArtworkJAFanarts/SMARTCritToomanyYomas.jpg this fanart.]]** Which caused a DubInducedPlotHole in the English {{Macekre}} of ''Manga/TokyoMewMew''. If there's now an "army" of monsters of the week, why do we only see one at a time?** Both parodied and played straight in ''[[Anime/PrettySammy Magical Project S]]'', which has Pixy Misa summoning a new "Love-Love Monster" in half of the episodes. The show and its characters are quite aware of both the futility of these creations (as the incantation of "Calling Mistakes" suggests) and their formulaic nature (in an episode where Misa introduces a small army of them, Sammy dryly says "I've seen all those already").** ''Pokémon'' is well-known for this: some Pokémon get to be the monster of the week ''multiple times''. Within the first 24 episodes, Gastly was monster of the week ''twice'': when he was impersonating a statuified woman, and as part of the [[BigBoosHaunt Lavender Town episode]] with its evolutions.** You could also make a point for Team Rocket's mechs.** In ''Video/YokaiWatch'', with the yokai. Each episode features several sections, with at least one of those sections featuring an odd situation, Keita finding out it's caused by a yokai, then beating said yokai in some way or another. (Although he doesn't always defeat it. Sometimes the end of the part is played for laughs with a failed resolution, but this is pretty rare).[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* In the old ''ComicBook/TheDandy'' comic strip, Jack Silver, the villainous Captain Zapp had a device known as a Duplicator, which could create a living, breathing copy of any picture that was fed into it. Every week, he would use the strange creatures the machine produced to commit crimes, before being stopped by Jack Silver and his gadget of the week.* Many comics tend to have a story with a one-shot villain every now and then. It would be easier to list comic books and comic strips that DON'T utilize the monster of the week trope.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* ''Fanfic/GoJyuSentaiGigaranger'' sometimes follows this format, with [[Fanfic/MyLittleUnicorn Starfleet]] having their own personal monsters.* ''Fanfic/TheLionKingAdventures'' follows this format, featuring an absolute plethora of villains, monsters and aliens.* Most chapters of ''Fanfic/MyLittleUnicorn'' deal with the good guys blowing up Titan's recently created monster/Chrysalis's new changeling.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In the ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' series, whenever Visser Three (BigBad of the series who possesses the same shape-shifting abilities as the titular heroes) would personally participate in a battle, he would do so by assuming the form of a new exotic alien creature [[CurbStompBattle that clearly outmatched the Earth animals that the Animorphs themselves had taken the forms of]]. Subverted by the fact that it is the same character every time, only in a different form.** Played straight in later books with one-shot antagonists like [[TheCaligula Queen Soco]] and [[SmugSuper the Inspector]].* The ''Franchise/DocSavage'' novels are always this [[spoiler:except one]] because Doc is so good at [[TechnicalPacifist what]] he does [[spoiler:(lobotomies)]].* This trope is actually OlderThanSteam. ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' is lately made up of monster of the week encounters, or in this case monster of the chapter.* In the books of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', earlier-written ones in particular, the vast majority of villains are only there for the book or trilogy, and books set later or earlier completely forget that these villains ever existed. Odd, considering that they tend to be Imperial forces. The exceptions are Creator/AaronAllston's run on the ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'', which had the campaign against [[Literature/TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Warlord Zsinj]]; the Coruscant Nights trilogy, which had one-book guest appearances by [[Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire Prince Xizor]] and Aurra Sing; and roughly anything Creator/TimothyZahn writes.** The villain usually had a new superweapon, too: "the Death Star but Better" sums up all of them. [[ComicBook/MarvelStarWars The Tarkin]] was "the Second Death Star [[HilariousInHindsight before]] the Writers Knew about [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi the Real Second Death Star]]," [[ComicBook/DarkEmpire World Devastators]] are "the Death Star but [[MightyGlacier Slow]] and [[MookMaker Productive]]," the [[Literature/TheCourtshipOfPrincessLeia Nightcloak]] was "the Death Star but with [[TheNightThatNeverEnds Climate Change]]," [[Literature/TheCallistaTrilogy Darksaber]] was "the Death Star but [[GlassCannon Minimalistic]]," the [[ComicBook/DarkEmpire Eclipse]] was "the Death Star but also the [[CoolStarship Executor]]," the [[ComicBook/DarkEmpire Galaxy Gun]] was "the Death Star but with [[NukeEm Really Long Range Nukes]]," [[Literature/TheCorellianTrilogy Centerpoint Station]] was "the Death Star but also Long Range," and the [[Literature/JediAcademyTrilogy Sun Crusher]] was "the Death Star but GodModeSue." As you can guess, people who prefer the Death Star as an ultimate weapon [[ReplacementScrappy hate every single one of them.]] Particularly since about half of these have characters popping up to exclaim that this superweapon is worse than the Death Star, omg!** ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'' has a different horror or threat for each book. The first six can all be traced back to the MadScientist BigBad, who had a lot of projects going. The others are mostly unrelated.* In the ''Literature/TrixieBelden'' series, there's almost always a new villain in every book.* ''Literature/ZeusIsDead: A Monstrously Inconvenient Adventure'' has an in-universe, reality TV version of this with ''Monster Slayer'' in which Jason Powers stalks and kills a new monster each week. (When the Greek gods returned to the world, mythological monsters weren't far behind. There are now harpies off the coast of North Carolina and a hydra in Lake Michigan.)[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'': Just under half of the episodes were like this. Several episodes would focus on a specific person out of the forty-four hundred people who had disappeared and been returned (and, later on, [[spoiler: people who had taken the Promicin shots handed out by Jordan Collier)]], what sort of supernatural power they had developed, and a problem they had created (either willingly or otherwise) that would be resolved by the end of the episode. As stated above, it could in this case perhaps be more accurately called something like 'Freak of the Week', as the people in focus weren't always deliberately antagonistic.* ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'': The show starts off this way, though the Centipede organization and the mysterious Raina reoccur throughout various episodes.* ''Series/{{Angel}}'' started by following this trope, but the format was discarded in favor of an [[StoryArc arc-based]] one. ExecutiveMeddling in season 5 brought it back full circle.* ''Series/TheAquabatsSuperShow'' gleefully indulges in this, and its monsters run from the fairly standard to the truly bizarre.* ''Series/BabylonFive'' had these from time to time, most often in the first two seasons, with StoryArc episodes mixed in and becoming more common as the show continued. By the third season, such episodes became very rare as the plot began to reach critical mass.* ''Series/BigWolfOnCampus'': Since it's technically a MonsterMash, that's [[JustifiedTrope reasonable enough]].* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': ** The series interspersed monster of the week episodes with StoryArc episodes, especially toward the beginning of the season. This became less common in later seasons.** Vampire Willow was this for two weeks.** Eyghon the Sleepwalker, although he becomes much more important in ''Angel & Faith''.* ''Series/BurnNotice'' episodes usually worked within a dual structure where Mike and his friends helped a Client of the Week fight a Loan Shark/Drug Dealer/Gang Member of the Week while also investigating the larger MythArc about Michael's [[TitleDrop burn notice]]. Mike almost always completely out-classed the villain of the week, so the larger arc was usually a chance to humble him and show him struggling with an equally matched opponent. * ''ElChapulinColorado'' had most of its episode base on a Monster of the Week/Villain of the Week dynamics, although most monsters were a ScoobyDooHoax, so probably will be more accurate to say always Villain of the Week.* ''Series/{{Charmed}}'' utilized this, although it became less prevalent in later seasons.* ''Series/CriminalMinds'' has a new case almost every week (through at least Season 3) -- usually dealing with the type of people you could call "monsters."* ''Series/DarkAngel'': the [[SecondSeasonDownfall second season]] is a good example of this trope.* ''Series/DarkShadows'' often had season-long arcs like this with one supernatural villain.* The "To Catch a Predator" segments of ''Series/{{Dateline}}'' generally featured Pedophiles of the Week.* ''Series/DoctorWho'':** This show was originally supposed to be an edutainment program... until the Daleks showed up, whereupon it careened irreversibly into monster of the week territory.** Notably, the old series was made up of serials, usually three or four parts...making it more like monster of the ''month''. Though, the new series follows this trope straight, while also including more {{Story Arc}}s.** They even lampshade this trope in "The Eleventh Hour", during Matt Smith's [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome epic speech]]: "'cause you're not the first to have come here, oh, there have been ''so'' many!"* ''Series/{{Farscape}}'' had monsters of the week interspersed with the StoryArc episodes throughout the series.* ''Series/{{Forever}}''. Although Adam is the OverarchingVillain of the series, it's still a cop procedural, with weekly cases and criminals.* ''Series/ForeverKnight'': Nick Knight generally faces a new criminal every week in his job as a metropolitan police detective. Recurring villains include his vampire sire [=LaCroix=].* ''Series/{{Fringe}}'' starts out as primarily a monster of the week show, but later on they're either in service of or serve as a distraction to the MythArc.* ''Series/{{Grimm}}'': The first half of the first series follows this to a tee. The second half of the series featured more character arcs and ongoing plotlines but it still largely stuck with one case every week, whether certain cases fed into a previous one or not.* ''Series/{{Haven}}'' revolves around the supernatural mystery disaster of the week. The town seems to attract people who are "troubled" and have supernatural abilities.* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'': This show is normally entirely serialized, but volume three would often put the arc in the background for a one-off evolved human. Examples include the man who could create wormholes and the Haitian's brother.* ''Series/{{Highlander}}'' often had an evil Immortal of the week, due to the need to have a sword duel OnceAnEpisode.* Irwin Allen: Almost every episode of ''Series/VoyageToTheBottomOfTheSea'', ''Series/LostInSpace'', and several other 60s SF shows produced by this man.* ''Franchise/KamenRider'', being a {{Tokusatsu}} franchise, has this as a staple. The following list includes notable implementations or subversions and aversions to this trope:** The first and second monster in the original ''Series/KamenRider'' series are the Spider Man and Bat Man respectively. [[note]]Not to be confused with the famous comic book heroes[[/note]]. Many of the newer Kamen Rider series reference them by either basing the first monsters a Rider would face on these animals, or basing important antagonists on them.** The 51 Undead in ''Series/KamenRiderBlade'' are actually in conflict with one another to see which will be the dominant species on Earth (the human Undead was the winner of the last such competition, hence ''us''). It can probably be assumed most of them are simply laying low and gathering their strength at the beginning of the series.** ''Series/KamenRiderDenO'' and ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' are a slight variation on this, as almost every episode is a two-parter (or more); therefore, almost every monster of the week actually lasts at least two weeks -- and for the former show, that's not counting the ones that were just slightly rebranded and reused, or those [[spoiler:revived to serve as the BigBad's army in the GrandFinale]]. ** Averted with ''Series/KamenRiderGaim''. The series focuses more on the conflict with the multiple riders, who each deal differently with the series' impending apocalypse, resulting in more Rider vs Rider battles than battles against monsters. Only near the beginning are single monsters treated like a genuine threat. After a short while, the series starts reusing old monsters and treats them like glorified {{Mooks}}, serving only as the occasional distraction. * ''Series/KolchakTheNightStalker'' could be considered the ultimate archetype. It was, in fact, even mockingly dismissed by some as "Kolchak's Monster of the Week" when its transfer from a pair of movies to a TV series ended up not quite panning out.* The Creator/AnimalPlanet show ''Series/LostTapes'' features a different monster tormenting the PointOfView character(s) each week.* ''Series/{{Merlin}}'': This was a big part of the first series, and the BigBad only appeared in 4 of the 13 episodes. From Series 2 onwards the writers concentrated more on a singular villain ([[spoiler:Morgause, Morgana and Agravaine]], though occasionally a one-off monster will appear for a {{Filler}} episode. * ''Series/PainkillerJane'' followed this formula, with the agency facing a different [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual neuro]] every week.* ''Series/{{Primeval}}'': Just what will come through the [[NegativeSpaceWedgie Anomaly]] this week? Gorgonopsid? Mammoth? Velociraptor? Future predator? KnightInShiningArmor? The show also has a StoryArc that ran parallel, with the heroes battling human villains while still handling the monsters of the week, who filed both sides under "dinner".* As mentioned above, ''Series/TheOuterLimits1963'' named and codified the trope, but there were several episodes that eschewed the formula;** "The Man Who Was Never Born" turns the formula on it's head by having the monster (Andros, a deformed mutant from a far flung Bad Future) be the protagonist, who seeks to undue the very future he was from.** "The Hundred Days of the Dragon" is centered around a Chinese government operative who uses a special drug that can shape shift his face, but no monster is present or implied.** "The Borderland" has no monster to speak of; the episode is set around a machine that can reach into another dimension.** "Controlled Experiment" likewise has no "monster", with the central characters being two martians with completely human appearances and a time control device on hand, and they aren't evil.** "The Inheritors" has no monster in either part of the episode.** "The Form of Things Unknown" is another episode with no monster, but a science fiction element (namely, a Time Tilter device).* ''Series/ThePrisoner'' had the No. 2 of the week, who tried the scheme of the Week to attempt to break No. 6. (There were a couple of returning No. 2s with new schemes.)* ''Series/RedDwarf'' goes this way after about the third series. To their credit, the crew is pretty GenreSavvy about it, especially in Series 6. For example, Rimmer explains to one monster that everybody they'd met to that point has tried to kill them. It also swings the other direction in Series 7 & 8, having the storylines cover multiple episodes. (Although they are still self-contained.)* ''Series/{{Revolution}}'': This show goes with the villain Of the week variety. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E2ChainedHeat Chained Heat]]" had the bounty hunter Jacob. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E3NoQuarter No Quarter]]" had Captain Jeremy Baker (who got DemotedToExtra afterward). "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E4ThePlagueDogs The Plague Dogs]]" had a mad dog-trainer named Ray Kinsey. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E6SexAndDrugs Sex and Drugs]]" had a drug lord named Drexel. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E7TheChildrensCrusade The Children's Crusade]]" had Lieutenant Slotnick. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E8TiesThatBind Ties That Bind]]" had Sergeant Will Strausser (who still appeared in a couple more episodes). "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E9Kashmir Kashmir]]" had Sergeant Joseph Wheatley. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E12Ghosts Ghosts]]" had Captain Joseph Deckert. "[[Recap/RevolutionS1E14TheNightTheLightsWentOutInGeorgia The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia]]" had Alec Penner.* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':** The show has the "meteor freak" of the week, mutants created by [[GreenRocks Kryptonite]]. Season 6 also gave us the Phantom Zone escapees-of-the-week. As the series has progressed, it has much more of a StoryArc, but also keeps the Monster of the Week format.** It also had an interesting variation starting in Season 4: ''Hero'' of the Week. Every season would have about two or three episodes where a superhero or two from the comics would guest star, run amuck, get on Clark's bad side, then ultimately they'd make their peace and help each other out before leaving in a manner that some could interpret as a PoorlyDisguisedPilot. The CW's second superhero show ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' seemed to play with this method when it introduced Huntress: at first she seemed like she was going to be a hero of the week, then her second episode has her declare she'd rather practice revenge, not justice, then her third has her cross the MoralEventHorizon, turning her into a villain-of-the-week.* ''Series/{{Space 1999}}'': One of the most common fan complaints about the second season was that it dropped the metaphysical and psychodrama aspects in favour of more monster of the week action-oriented stories.* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':** In SF author David Gerrold's book about writing the episode "The Trouble With Tribbles", he recounts seeing the first episode broadcast, which featured a creature that sucked all of the salt out of people's bodies, thereby killing them. He hoped ''Star Trek'' wasn't going to turn out to be a monster of the week show, which ironically for him, it did.** While later series rarely had weekly ''monsters'', ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' and especially ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' had [[NegativeSpaceWedgie stellar anomalies]] of the week that were always solved by a healthy amount of {{Technobabble}}.** The first season of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' started to become a ''[[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien god-like alien]]'' of the week show, but fortunately found sturdier footing in subsequent seasons.* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' usually has actual monsters, more so in the first two seasons. This is balanced against the MythArc villains, who tend to be demons, rogue angels, and, in Season 7, [[EldritchAbomination Leviathans]]. In the later episodes the writers still bring in a monster of the week every once and a while for a [[BreatherEpisode breather]].* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'':** Practically every series (and by extension, every ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' series). There's no point in listing them all, just click the link to see them. Plenty of lampshading. "Just send them all" has in fact been tried before. If it's a small number the Rangers have a hell of a time with them. If it's a large number, ConservationOfNinjitsu kicks in and they go down as easily as EliteMooks. Except for the time they had to kill Zordon...** Notable ''Sentai'' MOTW include [[Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger Baseball Mask]], who managed to show up ''twice'' for [[Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger the 35th anniversary]], [[Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger Can Opener Mask]], who actually succeeded in [[spoiler:killing a Ranger]], and [[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Chinomanako]], who managed to [[Series/KamenRiderDecade become Kamen Rider Diend and nearly cause the end of the World of Shinkenger.]]** ''Series/ChoudenshiBioman'' features a rare aversion (almost): instead of traditional monsters of the week, five recurring human sized "beastnoids" fought the team instead, although there was always a giant robot of the week instead of an enlarged normal monster. Given that this meant the giant robot costumes got little use, this approach has only been done in Bioman.* Very common in the {{Tokusatsu}} genre, especially ''Franchise/KamenRider'', ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' (and by extension, ''Franchise/PowerRangers'') and the ''Franchise/UltraSeries''. This isn't terribly surprising, as the action and fights are the main draw of these shows. Indeed, ''Super Sentai'' has multiple-stage monster of the week fights, culminating in a [[SuperRobot robot]] vs. [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever daikaiju]] showdown. Below are some notable examples:** ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' may well be your average Westerner's introduction to the very concept.** Parodied in one episode of ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm''. [[BigBad Lothor]] tries to send six giant monsters at once against the heroes, only for his device to fail citing a "memory error." His general informs him that they did not pay for the memory upgrade, so they can only enlarge one monster at a time. Lothor curses at this complaining that as future ruler of the world "''I need big monsters!'''" and settles for enlarging one and making the rest fight while small.** Except for ''[[Series/ChoujinkiMetalder Metalder]]'' and ''[[Series/SekaiNinjaSenJiraiya Jiraiya]]'' every other ''Franchise/MetalHeroes'' show (except the ''Rescue Police'' trilogy) followed this; even ''Series/TokusouRoboJanperson'' has a "Cyborg of the Week" along with actual monsters.** ''Series/ChoujinkiMetalder'' deserves special notice. In the first episode, ''every monster ever'' can be seen in the BigBad's lair. There are four groups of monsters, each with its own general, and each has his or her own rank. Most are just in the background until it's their turn at being MOTW, but there are monsters who live to tell the tale and come back to fight another day ''multiple'' times, and some who rise to become major characters even if not "Victorious Saint" (general) rank.** Even an adult-oriented Toku like ''Series/{{Garo}}'' has monster of the week episodes, spliced in with StoryArc episodes. On several occasions did the MOTW turn out to be relevant to the arc.** ''Series/ChouSeiShinGransazer'' actually averts this trope for most of the series. The first 12 episodes has an alien agent put the Gransazers against each other. The next quarter of the show deals with a trio of recurring villains. Only the third quarter of the show has the heroes consistently deal with random monster attacks, which subsequently get replaced by another set of recurring villains in the final arc.* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''... At least, the first two series. After the successful switch to "mini-series focused on a single threat" of ''Children of Earth'', RTD decided to drop the MOTW format altogether.* ''[[Series/{{Tremors}} Tremors: The Series]]'':** In the series, monsters of the week were produced by a chemical compound called "[[MutagenicGoo Mix Master]]" which, once released into the valley, randomly scrambled together the DNA of all living things except humans. This created monstrosities ranging from acid-shooting plants to giant shrimp.** And one of them was defeated by the resident monster, El Blanco.* ''Series/{{Ultraman}}'', especially the original series, followed this trope to the letter, except for the one two-parter that took two episodes to defeat one monster.* ''Series/{{Warehouse 13}}'' revolves around the Artifact of the Week, which can range from purely a MacGuffin all the way up to an actual Monster.* ''Series/TheWestWing'' does this metaphorically, with political crisis of the week, caused by idiot politician of the week (in fact, many episodes are around one week long).* ''Series/TheXFiles'': The show alternated weekly monsters and MythArc episodes. ''The X-Files'' is famous for not quite wrapping up a [=MOTW=] and closing with a TheEndOrIsIt ending. Unusually, while most fandoms considers [=MOTWs=] to be fillers, a large group of ''X-Files'' fans considered the weekly monster episodes to be superior to the Myth Arc episodes, especially in later seasons... mostly because the latter were [[TheChrisCarterEffect made up as they went along]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* The game ''Monsterhearts'' (based on ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld'''s rules) can run on this trope, if one of the players is using the Chosen skin.* The aptly-named ''TabletopGame/MonsterOfTheWeek'' game (also based on ''TabletopGame/ApocalypseWorld'''s system) is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.* Although a different medium, episodic RPG campaigns also fall into this pattern, as gaming groups usually get together to play once a week.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* The ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series uses this for bosses in the game chapters.* A large amount of ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' games' plots follow this, each game being based on one BigBad at a time (the major exception being the [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark]] [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3 Matter]] [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards Trilogy]]). Of these include ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'' with [[spoiler:Nightmare]], ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' with Dedede, Dyna Blade, Wham Bam Rock, Meta Knight, and [[spoiler:Marx]] in their respective games, ''[[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror Kirby & the Amazing Mirror]]'' with [[spoiler:Dark Mind]], ''VideoGame/KirbyCanvasCurse'' with Drawcia, ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'' with Daroach (later [[spoiler:Dark Nebula]]), ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' with Yin-Yarn, ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'' with Necrodeus, ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' with [[spoiler:Magolor]], and ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'' with [[spoiler:Queen Sectonia]].* The sets of [[ArbitraryHeadcountLimit 8 Robot Masters]] in the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' series easily fall into this. The Game Boy spin-offs do this with the Mega Man Hunters/Rockman Killers ([[MyFriendsAndZoidberg and Quint]]) and the Stardroids as well, while the sole Genesis game in the series (''The Wily Wars'') had the Genesis Unit. Then, there's the [[spoiler:[[DiscOneFinalBoss fake]]]] major villains replacing Dr. Wily...* Every single game in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series has you fight a Monster of the Week as the final boss.* The monthly Full Moon Shadows that the party fights in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' at first seem to fall into this category; however, later on, it is revealed that [[spoiler:they are all actually fragments of a single Shadow, [[TheGrimReaper Death]], who is the [[EnigmaticMinion herald]] of [[CosmicHorror Nyx]], the one destined to bring about TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]].** The true Monster of the Week was typically whichever [[BeefGate Tartarus Boss]] your party was ready to fight on that night's run.* The recent ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' games, starting from ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' generally have one as the final boss (and usually [[SealedEvilInACan unleashed]] [[EvilIsNotAToy by]] Dr. Eggman).* Unlike the rest of [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros the franchise]], every VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG except ''VideoGame/PaperMarioStickerStar'' has several of these, unique to the chapter, and at least one major villain unique to the game, and almost '''every''' ''VideoGame/WarioLand'' boss or villain is one.* Taken [[UpToEleven up a notch]] in the ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' franchise. Not only do the heroes have to deal with most (if not all) of the villains and monsters from their respective series (including those mentioned above), but there's ''also'' a new latest threat to stop on top of everything else.* Most ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' bosses only appear as a main boss once and then either [[HeelFaceTurn turn good]] or at least [[EnemyMine befriend]] Reimu, Marisa or both the next game they're seen, though this doesn't stop [[LetsYouAndHimFight the occasional misunderstanding]], especially in the FightingGame or PVP spinoffs, or [[OneSceneWonder are never seen again]] outside of a GaidenGame. This is a main reason for the LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters, the other being [[LongRunners 15 games and counting]] ([[CapcomSequelStagnation discounting decimal-numbered games!]]).* A ''literal'' example in ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' for the DS: each week of the Reaper's Game is presided over by a "game master." These are especially powerful Reapers who, what do you know, transform into monstrous versions of themselves when you get to fight them.* About all games that involve a lot of [[BossFight Boss Fights]] follow this trope. Think ShootEmUp and RolePlayingGames for example. [[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]* The first three chapters of ''Webcomic/AgentsOfTheRealm'' has the girls face three [[OurMonstersAreDifferent bleeds]]: a bear-bleed, spider-bleed and bird-bleed.* ''Webcomic/GorgeousPrincessCreamyBeamy'' parodies and plays this straight ([[ScheduleSlip albeit, in an arc-based way]]) with its Instant Monsters ,[[MagicalGirl for obvious reasons]]. So far, three of them have been defeated, with the former two being sentient everyday objects, and the third being human (however, the side effects of the potion on him were unintended).[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* ''AshAndCinders'' often has the trio facing off against different strange perils in between their FetchQuest to retrieve their stolen half-brother.* The web fiction serial ''Literature/DimensionHeroes'' often has the Dimensional Guardians fighting a new monster in every chapter, though it must be pointed out the fights still help to advance the story arc.* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'' has a different monster showing up in every episode with varying threat levels. Koden even references this trope in 'The Camping Webisode'.* ''Literature/NewYorkMagician'': Not many (as there aren't that many stories, all told), but they definitely have this vibe.* ''WebAnimation/QuirkyMisadventuresOfSoldineTheCyborg'': the first three mini-movies follow this format. The fourth one contains NightOfTheLivingMooks and a QuirkyMinibossSquad, but the fifth one returns to the classic format.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* Every episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfFigaroPho'' focuses on a different phobia, usually manifesting said phobia as a character who serves as the villain for the episode.* ''WesternAnimation/AquaTeenHungerForce'' usually follows this rule, with the monster somehow spawning out of Shake or Carl's short-sighted actions or [[GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere out of nowhere]]. This arguably counts as a parody, as said monsters usually turn out to be more obnoxious than evil. [[NegativeContinuity Although the cast usually gets killed or horribly maimed regardless.]]* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'' has a handful of baddies that only took one episode to defeat.* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''** An episode, [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE6TheUnderdwellers "The Underdwellers"]], spotlighted a villain called the Sewer King who never appeared again. He was sufficiently creepy for a Batman villain, but it's just as well he never returned, since he was really only good for one story (that is, showcasing the evils of child slavery).** The same could be said of Baby Doll, as she only ever had 2 appearances, and was limited in both motive and ability compared to other, more menacing Batman villains.* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'' lives on this. Considering the strange and [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment varied varieties]] of trouble that tend to occur wherever Ben goes, one feels sorry for this kid's hometown if summer vacation ends.** [[DoomedHometown Yeah, it gets toasted.]]** Sometimes inverted in a few seasons, where the Monster of the Week wasn't just what Ben faced, but what he ''became''.* ''WesternAnimation/BikerMiceFromMars'' frequently had Lawrence Limburger summon a one-shot antagonist to defeat the Biker Mice or distract them from ruining his schemes. Unusually for this trope, some of the Monsters of the Week would occasionally come back for another episode.* The Divinos of ''WesternAnimation/ComboNinos''.* Courage faces this all of the time in ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog''. In one episode, [[LegionOfDoom they get together]] to try and beat the "stupid dog."* The Crime Grimes of ''WesternAnimation/CreepyCrawlers''.* ''WesternAnimation/DinoSquad'' had a somewhat interesting variation on this. While it did have a central villain mutating normal animals into prehistoric creatures, and doing so was part of his master plan to take over the world, he only did so to gather scientific data to improve the mutation process. The mutants were almost never created to facilitate some ''other'' evil plan.* ''WesternAnimation/GodzillaTheSeries'' has a new creature of some sort in every episode. However, most of these monsters are actually pretty good, and they range from a petroleum-eating [[GrayGoo goo blob]], to a swarm of ants big enough to uproot and carry a tree.* Dr. Claw of ''WesternAnimation/InspectorGadget'' had a new special MAD agent almost every week, who would never be seen again after the episode they appeared in. ''WesternAnimation/GadgetAndTheGadgetinis'' did the same, but also had some one-time villains with no connection to M.A.D. or Dr. Claw whatsoever.* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'' has this especially in its first season. Later on it focuses more on its MythArc. * ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' has someone on almost every episode who wants to take advantage of the main characters or just be a jerk to them, and never appear again.* ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'': the titular pair try to find a peaceful place for each monster to live.** Then there's Rufus from the ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' crossover.* ''WesternAnimation/MartinMorning'' demonstrates this, with the odd twist of the protagonist being the new monster each episode.* ''WesternAnimation/MartinMystery'' was this kind of show, with the characters being sent each week to investigate a mystery that always ended up being caused by a monster.* ''WesternAnimation/MegasXLR'' practically lives off this, along with a fair bit of lampshade hanging. "Cool. Lets go see what kinda monster I get to beat up this week!"* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' has the akuma, ordinary people whose extreme negative emotions allowed the BigBad Hawkmoth to turn them into super-villains in his bid to steal the heroes' [[TransformationTrinket Miraculouses]].* ''WesternAnimation/MonsterForce''.* The monsters in ''WesternAnimation/MovilleMysteries''.* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' tends to follow this format with the Season Premieres and Finales, while generally keeping to a SliceOfLife format for in between (it could almost be called "Monster Of The Season"). In fact, whenever a major villain makes a second appearance[[note]]Not counting Season 5's BadFuture scenarios[[/note]] said second appearance is about the ponies [[HeelFaceTurn swinging them to the side of good]]. A handful of monsters ''do'' make an appearance during the SliceOfLife episodes (Like the Tatzlwurm from ''Three's A Crowd'' or the Chimera from ''Somepony to Watch Over Me'') but they're rarely the focus and usually just roll up to the party late to stir up a bit of extra trouble.* ''WesternAnimation/PiggsburgPigs'' was, somewhat unexpectedly for a cartoon about FunnyAnimal main characters, an example of this. Unexpectedly because the monsters that ended up driving every story weren't used for humor themselves. Considering how every episode ends up being about some monster/demon/alien escaping the ForbiddenZone, one would be forgiven for thinking there'd be more done than putting up a few warning signs.* When not facing their RoguesGallery, WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls mostly just take on different monsters.* Nearly every episode of ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'' has Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie face a one-shot antagonist, many of which were mad scientists or thieves.* The various ghosts of both ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' and ''WesternAnimation/ExtremeGhostbusters'' fit neatly into this trope. The ghosts of ''WesternAnimation/FilmationsGhostbusters'' were more like a RoguesGallery with one-shot monsters and ghosts being the exception.* The User's player characters in ''WesternAnimation/{{ReBoot}}''.* ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow'' has established itself as one of these; but you'd probably prefer to call it "Weird Crap of the Week."** More like [[MundaneMadeAwesome "Mundane task that gets turned into supernatural problem or monster of the week."]]* ''Franchise/ScoobyDoo'''s use of PeopleInRubberSuits remains among the most [[LongRunner well-known]] and [[TropeCodifier archetypal]] examples of this trope.** Some incarnations even occasionally fought [[RealAfterAll actual]] [[ScoobyDooHoax monsters]]!* Spoofed in ''Sev Trek: Pus in Boots'' (an Australian parody of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'').-->'''Lt. Barf:''' "Captain, we are being hailed. I recommend we go to RedAlert!"\\'''Captain Pinchhard:''' "We haven't even met them! Isn't that a little premature?"\\'''Lt. Barf:''' "Every week we encounter aliens who try to destroy or take over the ship. It would save a lot of time if we assumed the worst now."* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' has Spider-Man fight a {{supervillain}} of the week.** Though a lot of these were the result of the machinations of one or more of the show's [[BigBadEnsemble three]] {{Big Bad}}s -- Tombstone, Doc Ock, or [[spoiler:Norman Osborn]], rather than isolated encounters. What's really interesting is the show's justification for why there are so many supervillains running around: The Big Bads had them created to keep Spider-Man busy and thus unable to interfere with their standard criminal operations.* ''WesternAnimation/SpeedBuggy'' had the characters getting entangled with the exploits of various criminals and evil masterminds every episode.* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' started out with the focus being on the protagonists fighting random monsters, going after certain artifacts, or dealing with a mess caused by the titular hero, while using that as a backdrop for worldbuilding and character development. This was the dynamic even in the more SliceOfLife-oriented episodes. Halfway through the first season, however, it slowly introduced a MythArc and ditched the MonsterOfTheWeek style altogether; nowadays the SliceOfLife episodes tend to be more... SliceOfLife.* On ''WesternAnimation/SWATKats'', this phenomenon also cropped up as the "Missile of the Week" used to deal with the current problem at hand.** Lampshaded by Razor in the episode "Unlikely Alloys" upon seeing Zed.* The Mutraddi Beasts of ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan''.* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' had a couple of villains who were Monsters of the Week (Besides the ones where the [[LegionOfDoom Brotherhood of Evil]] reunites them). Some villains were lucky to have two appearances.* ''WesternAnimation/TotallySpies'' typically operates under this format, though some villains do escape from prison from time to time.* The main premise of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise2015'' is Bumblebee and his team recapturing escaped Decepticons, with almost every episode having a new Decepticon appear as the antagonist.* WesternAnimation/{{Underdog}} often fights one of these (usually an alien) when he isn't fighting Simon Bar Sinister or Riff Raff.* Discussed in ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' by the [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep Pirate Captain]] at his booth in "The Buddy System." He touts the benefits of being a "small-time diversionary menace," playing off his original role as a parody of a Franchise/ScoobyDoo villain, as opposed to a [[ArcVillain career]] [[BigBad supervillain]].* ''WesternAnimation/YogisGang'': Each episode features a different villain or team of villains reveling in or encouraging bad behavior, from vandalism to cheating to air pollution.[[/folder]]----